Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
Naucrates, whom I wanted to find, was not on board ship;
AMPHITRYON
neither at home nor in the city do I meet with any one that has seen him; for through all the streets have I crawled, the wrestling-rings and the perfumers’ shops, to the market, too, and in the shambles, the school for exercise, and the Forum, the doctors’ shops, the barbers’ shops, and among all the sacred buildings. I’m wearied out with seeking him, and yet I nowhere meet with Naucrates.
1010
Now I’ll go home, and from my wife will I continue to make enquiry into this matter, who the person was, by the side of whom she submitted her body to dishonor. For it were better that I was dead, than that I this day should leave this enquiry incomplete. (Goes up to the door.) But the house is closed. A pretty thing indeed! This is done just like the other things have been done: I’ll knock at the door. (Knocks.)
1015
Open this door; ho there! is there anybody here? Is any one going to open this door?
1020
[Textpart 2]
Who’s that at the door?
AMPHITRYON
’Tis I that say so.
MERCURY
For sure, Jupiter and all the Deities are angered with you who are banging at the door this way.
AMPHITRYON
In what manner?
MERCURY
In this manner, that without a doubt you must be spending a wretched life.
MERCURY
Well; I’m Sosia, unless you think that I’ve forgotten myself.
What do you want now?
1025
AMPHITRYON
What, you rascal, and do you even ask me that, what it is I want?
1025
MERCURY
I do so ask you; you blockhead, you’ve almost broken the hinges from off the door. Did you fancy that doors were supplied us at the public charge? Why are you looking up at me, you stupid? What do you want now for yourself, or what fellow are you?
AMPHITRYON
You whip-scoundrel, do you even ask me who I am, you hell of elm-saplingsHell of elm-saplings: Ulmorum Acheruns. According to Taubmann, this means, whose back devours as many elm-rods as Acheron does souls.?
I’ faith, this day I’ll make you burn with smarts of the scourge for these speeches of yours.
1030
MERCURY
You surely must have formerly been a spendthrift in your young days.
